grozier



T. H. GROZIER.

PROCESS FOR THE RECLAIMING OF USED PRINTERS ROLLER COMPOSITION.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I8. I918.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919..

3 SHEET$SHEET I.

. T. H. GROZIER.

PROCESS FOR THE RECLAIMlNG 0F usan emmeas' ROLLER COMPOSITION.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13. l9l8.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919;

1,321,789 3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

a m-ago:

T. H. GROZIER.

PROCESS FOR THE RECLAIMING OF USED PRINTERS ROLLER COMPOSITION.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13. l9l8.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

a'owomoo OIOOOOOO I ,9 /6 /6 g o O o 0 9 0 41 o 0 /6 a) 0 g o o m G G I T/iG-mzi r an snares rarnrrr orr fl THOMAS HAMILTON GROZIEBI, OF LONG-UEVILLE, NEAR SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA.

PROCESS FOR THE RECLAIMING OF USED PRINTERS-ROLLER COMPOSITION.

IBZJLWSF.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

Application filed June 18, 1918. Serial No. 239,822.

To all whom it may concern:

Wales, Commonwealth of Australia, have,

invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes for the Reclaiming of Used Printers-Boller Composition, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a process for the reclaiming of used printers roller composition, and has for its object the speedy and efficient separation and recovery of the unspent portion of the composition from the residuum.

In known processes, the used composition is treated in either a, closed jacketed vessel in which steam is supplied to the jacket to heatthe vessel and its contents, to melt the liquefiableportion thereof, or it is treated in a closed vessel wherein the heating of the mass is effected by supplying saturated steam to the contents in order to accomplish the same object.

In these above mentioned treatments considerable pressure of steam is required to eliiciently and expeditiously carry out the operation of liquefaction. This necessitates strong and expensive apparatus both for the steam boiler used for the purpose and for the apparatus itself in which the treatment of the composition is carried out.

Apart from the objections above mentioned in respect to the cost of the providing of strong vessels to generate and to contain the high pressure steam, in the latter mode of treatment, viz :-the direct application of saturated steam to the contents, the water of condensation produced by such treatment, causes a waterlogging of the liquefied composition and the excess. moisture thus added is required to be driven OK in order to render the composition fit for commercial use. The presence of the excess moisture above referred to invariably causes mold and rot to attack the composition so waterlogged. i

In each case too, the liquefia'ble and the unliquefiable portions of the composition are intimately associated at the completion of the operations, and the unliquefiable port on is required to be separated from the liquid portion is a more or less cumbersome and expensive manner.

By the use of this invention the above named objectionable features are eliminated. The used composition is so treated that the unspent liquefiable portion is rapidly and efficiently separated by liquefaction from the spent unliquefiable portion and this is effected without the addition to the recovered compositionof any surplus moisture. Furthermore the liquefiable portion is separated from the residuum.

The invention consists in the application of superheated low pressure steam whereby apparatus of light and consequently cheap construction is used to efiect the liquefaction of the unspent portion, with its consequent separation from the residuum of the composition. It also refers to the casting or molding into small units or blocks of the recovered liquid composition for ready handling and for rapid seasoning.

Referring to the annexed sheets of explanatory drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus used for the thermal treatment of the used composition.

Fig. 2 is a perspective fragment plan of the casting mold tray showing one unit of the material removed from its mold. In this view the casting mold tray is shown supplied with the water cooling device to expedite cooling of the contents of the molds.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of one form of the apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the cages or receptacles mto which the used printers roller composition is loaded into the vessel.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through an alternative form of apparatus, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective plan view of the condensed water catchment and evaporator taken on plane AA.

1 is the barrel of the apparatus which is provided with a dished bottom 2 and drain cock 3, the latter operated by the handle 4. The cover of the apparatus is formed in two disassociatable parts 5 and 6 and forms a vapor proof joint when positioned as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. It also is a catchment for the waters of condensation, and an evaporator for such.

The upper portion or cover proper is preferably domed or cone shape to promote rapid draining of the condensed water particles which lodge on its inner surface. An aperture 7 for the escape of vapor is formed as shown." The lower portion 6 is dished to aflord free passage for the escaping steam or vapor from the apparatus. In each case the construction of the cover 5, wall 9, and

the dished bottom of 6 provide for rapid drainage of any deposited moisture, to the receptacle formed by such dshing of the catchment 6. 10fare brackets whereon are seated the cages or perforated receptacles 11, for holding the used composition to be treated. These brackets '10 are so proportioned in length as to permit of the withdrawal and replacing of the eages or receptacles 11 freely. The latter are formed of meshed wire or of other convenient construction to permit of ready escape of the fluid portion of, the contents therefrom, and the retention of the solid or unliquefiable portion therein.

' With reference to Fig. 3 dried saturated steam is superheated in the coil 12 by any well known heating medium, such as gas,

and flows through the vertical pipe 13 tothe horizontally, placed ring shaped pipes 1 1.

i These latter are provided with a plurality of cock 3.

orifices or twyers 15' positioned to cause the escaping steam to impinge on to the vertical walls of the cages or receptacles 11 and so come into intimate contact with the contents thereof.

The liquefiable portion of the used composition drips from the cages or receptacles 11 intothe dished bottom 2 of the vessel, from whence it is permitted to escape at the completion of the operation by means of the Referring to Fig. 5. This modification illustrates an alternative construction of apparatus whereby the steam pipe service illustrated in Fig.7 3 installed within the barrel 1 is dispensed with, and the barrel 1 V is formed with a surrounding annular chamber 16 by means of the wall 17 to which the I superheated steam is admitted through the pipe 18. A plurality of orifices 19 are provided in the barrel 1 through which the steam from the annular chamber 16 flows mtothe mterior of the vessel. When steam is first admitted to the annular chamber 16 a certain amount of condensation occurs, and

the waters of such are drained away into the dished bottom. Upon the subsequent rise 1n temperature in the apparatus waters of condensation are vaporized, or such waters may be drained away through the valve 27. The used composition is contained in similarly constructed cages or receptacles to those above described;

The casting or molding trays 20 are each. formed with. a plurality of receptacles 21 into which the hot liquid composition is permitted to fiow, the upper ones being removed before casting and superimposed one by one above the lowermost, when the filling of that has been accomplished, until the uppermost one is charged, or vice versa.

The composition thus recovered is allowed to cool off in the molds when it is readily removed therefrom by upsetting. Cooling is expedited by circulating water within the water chamber 22 by means of the service pipes 23 and 24.

i The unliquefiable part of the used composition, comprising string and such like impurities, together with those portions of the composition impregnated with ink by which a skin or such like is formed, thus rendering them unliquefiable, remains in the bottom of each cage or receptacle. This is subsequently removed therefrom when the latter is withdrawn from the apparatus for cleaning purposes.

The water of condensation which deposits in the catchment 6 is rapidly evaporated by the superheated steam within the chamber impinging on the lower surface thereof, and so no accumulation of water therein is possible, the vapor so formed esca )ing to the atmosphere through the orifice In operation the used printers roller composition is packed into the cages or receptacles 11 in conveniently sized pieces and the cages or receptacles are positioned within the apparatus as shown. The cover 5 and catchment 6 are positioned on the apparatus as shown, and superheated steam of a pressure of from 1 to 10 lbs. to the square inch is admitted to the interior of the apparatus.

The steam is superheated from its saturated steam temperature of 213 Fahr. to 240 Fahr. to about from 300 to 350 Fahr. or more, care, however, being taken by the thermometer reading to insure that injury is not done to the composition by overheating it above the volatilizing temperature of glycerin. For that purpose a thermometer 25 is installed on the superheated steam admission pipe, and a uniform temperature is maintained by the use of a mercury or such like known governor device 26.

Under the action of the high temperature of the superheated steam the liquefiable portion of the composition is readily and efiis ciently separated from the unliquefiable portion and that is accomplished without the addition of any moisture thereto from the steam. Further, any excess moisture present in the used composition is vaporized and thus extracted from the composition by virtue of the high temperature and gaseous nature of the superheated steam. Any moisture or Water of condensation which is given up by the steam is ultimately caught between the parts 5 and 6 and falling into the catchment tray 6 is vaporized by the heat of the contained superheated steam in the chamber. Further, owing to the loWness of the pressure of the steam employed the apparatus used is cheaply constructed.

By the molding of the resultant composition into small units, ease of handling is effected and the material so cast is found to season or mature more readily than if cast in large pieces.

It is obvious that the process above described is useful for the separation of liquefiable from unliquefiable portions in like or kindred substances or compositions, wherein it is desirable to eifect such separa' tion without the addition to the liquefied portion of waters of condensation.

W hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Process for the purposes specified consisting in treating used printers roller composition in a closed vessel by the application of superheated steam, admitted directly thereto for the purpose of liquefying the usable portion thereof rapidly, intercepting and vaporizing the water of condensation to prevent its admixture with the recovered portion of the composition substantially as described and explained.

2. The application of superheated steam of low pressure to a closed vessel containing used printers roller composition or analogous substances for the purpose of liquefying the recoverable portion thereof from the unliquefiable portion and vaporizing the water of condensation formed in the vessel together with any excess existing moisture in the used composition thereby preventing their admixture with the recovered portion, substantially as described and explained.

8. The process of reclaiming of used printers roller composition consisting in subjecting the same in a closed vessel to the action of superheated steam, and continuously trapping and vaporizing the aqueous vapor arising therefrom through the passage of exhaust steam from the vessel, by means of a hollow chambered closure lid or cover heated by the superheated steam contained within the vessel, and allowing the passage of exhaust steam to the interior of the cover the exhaust of the steam therefrom, together With the aqueous vapor produced by evaporation within the vessel.

4. A process of treating used printers roller composition or analogous materials, which comprises directly applying thereto superheated steam at a pressure not substantially over ten pounds above atmos heric, until a material quantity of the sai composition liquefies, and allowing the liquefied portion to drain away from the non-liquefied portion.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS HAMILTON GROZIER.

Witnesses:

A. E. Goonrn, A. B. EVANS.

@opies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington. D. G. 

